Engine-starter for automobiles.



W. A. SHARPE.

ENGINE STARTER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 16, 1911.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

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GHQ M1013 W. A. "SHARPE.

BNGINE STARTER FOR. AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 16, 1911.

1,046,030. 1 Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

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WILLIAM A. SHEARPE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. & S. AUTO STARTER COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

ENGINE-STARTER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SHARPE, a cities-n of the United States, residingin the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters for Automobiles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in engine starters for automobiles, my object being to provide a device of this class which may be easily and quickly operated by the chauffeur from his position, without leaving his seat in the machine.

The starter is so constructed that it may be operated by the foot, thus leaving the hands of the chauffeur free for handling the steering-wheel. The device may, howei'er, be operated to equal advantage by the hand of the chauffeur by simply changing the form of the actuating lever.

In my improved construction, provision is made for compensating for the reverse movement of the engine shaft, due to backliring during the starting operation, the mechanism in this event being automatically regulated to allow the engine shaft to rotate freely without turning the operating wheel and its coni'iections, which are mounted on the said shaft, or rather upon a sleeve secured to the shaft. the said sleeve and shaft rotating in harmony atall times. lrovision is also made for a slight reverse movement of the engine shaft when the operating wheel is connected to rotate therewith. the same consisting of spring interposed between an arm of the operating lever and the operating gear actuated by the lever. the said spring being suificiently stiff to cause the lever and gear to normally move in unison. Vhen, however, tlfe reverse movement of the shaft occurs, and during the auto matic adjustment to releasethe operating wheel from the engine shaft to permit the latter to turn independently thereof, the

Specification of Letterslatent.

Application filed Octobei 16, 1911,

, Patented Dec. 3, 1912..

Serial an. $54,988.

gear is permitted to move independently of the lover, the latter being in such position that it cannot respond to the reverse movement of the engine shaft. This limited movement, due to the interposed spring, as aforesaid, is sufficient to allow time for the aforesaid automatic operation, whereby the engine shaft becomes rotatably disconnected from the operating wheel or pulley,

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same 111 detaihreference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawingz-Figure l is a top plan view of an automobile, showing my improved starting mechanism in position thereon. Fig. 2- is a fragmentarv view of the machine illustrating the starting mechanism on a larger scale. This view is taken looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1. Fig. is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 8. Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation illustrating the sleeve adapted to be secured to the engine shaft, and upon which the op erating wheel and other features cooperating therewith are mounted. Fig. 5 is an end view of the starting mechanism mounted on the engine shaft. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view illustrating a stationary sleeve. adapted to cooperate with an actuating ball for shifting a movable member to release the operating wheel from the engine shaft during the reverse moven'ient of the latter due to back-tiring. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the ring interposed between the operating wheel and the engine shaft for interlocking purposes. Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88, Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detail section taken on line 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view looking in the di rection of arrow 13, Fig. 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the framework of an automobile, upon which is mounted an engine 6 having a shaft 7, to the outer exposed extremity of which is secured a sleeve 8 carrying at its inner extremity a relatively large disk 9, which is hollowed cat, as shown at 10, to form a race eutrtanities with. ratchet. recesses 2:2,

for hearing halls 12, which engage a cone member 1 carrying pins 14: extending pan allel with the axis of the shaft and entering openings 15 formed in a ring 16 and prorided with lateally-arranged openings 1.7 extending entirely through the ring. This ring interpoi-sed between the hearing; suriiace of a chain wheel 18 and the body of the sleeve 8 heyond the dial: 8). The inner face of the wheel, adjacent the opening; 1.7 of the ring, is provided with recesses .19, whose walls 20 slope gradually toward the center of motion, the said recesses being adapted to receive halls $21, when the mechanism is in position to allow the halls to roll down- \i'ardly by gravity from the openiiiiga it? of the ring, whereby the chain wheel. and. the ring are locked to rotate in unison. .hcse opening 47' also communicate at their inner formed in the sleeve 8, whereljiy one or more of the zuctuating balls 21 will alwaye he in opera-- tire engagement. with one of the recesses which are so shaped with reference to the inner extremities of the openinga 17 that the sleeve 8 ancl'the ring are compelled to rotate in unison, when the ring is in its normal. position. By virtue of this construction, it

will he understood that, as the axis or center of motion is in a horizontal position, and, as there 18 a euthcient nnn'iher of the opentugs 17 and the actuating); halls 21. for the purpose, the chain wheel 18. the sleeve 8 and the interposed rii i) will he normally interlocked to .ii'oi'ate in unison in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8, this heing the three tion of the chain wheelie movement during the starting; (nacration of the engine, chain 23 being connected with a pin 24 fast on the periphery of the said wheel for the purpose, the wheel lining grooved, as shown at to maintain the chain in operative relatiw therewith. This; chain leads trout the chain wheel 1 to a wheel 26, suitahly jonrnaled on a. support attached to the framework 5 ct the ins'ichine, an angle pulley 28 being interposed. lLhJiV-fiitfll the chain wheel and the said wheel 26, the angle pullev heing mounted in a holder F39 hav'ng a swirelecl connection with the machine. as shown in; 30.

l aet on the spindle 31 of the wheel 26 is a pinion meshing with the teeth 33 of a segginental ii 34, formed out gral with a huh int...

xs'etl between the su 'iportineg E27 and a hub 36, termed integral with an actuating lever 38, which projects upwardly through an opening formed n the tioor I carrying a foot-plate 40 for convenience of manipulation, said foot-plate being readily accessible to the chauffeur for this purpose. Also formed integral with the huh $56 is an arm 41, lai'ing an eye 4-2 at ita outer extremity through which passes a curved stem one extremity oi. which is secured, as

of the machine, its upper extremity shown at 4 4., to the segmental gear S t. To the opposite extremity of this stein applied a nut 4L5, the atomihcinn tl'nieaded tor the nu-pose.

lnteiposcd lletweeu the nut i-53 and the eye 4-2 is; a relatively still spiral spring ill surrounding the said stem, which. spring norlnally maintains the lever arm it in close contact; with the lllgxll, which :l'ornis a St()]) to prevent the turtlnir mownuint of the eye of the hirer arm on the stem in one direct'ion.

lt mustv he understood that the huh Elli of the lever -38 and its arm ll. in journaled on. a spindle inilependtaitly oi? the huh 35 at the gear 71i, permitting hull-pendent move ment oi the said. parts on their spindle. l-i cnce, in the regularoperation oltheetarter, the lever 38 and the arm ill more in unison with the segmental gear 3 -11. When, howerer, the enginc'hack tires and. the engine .--:hatt is moved in. a direction the recert-3e of its normal direction, the action of the pinion 32, which would, in that event, more in the direction of the arrow adjacent the said pinion in Fig. 2, would. he to more the gear in the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent the segmental gear in Fig. lint, under these ci filll'lIf-ittUlPOS, it; may he assumed that the lever locked 3 IS against Jnoyement, asaun'iinn that the Stilt l lever in it; rearward petition indicated by full lines in Fig. and, under these cireuinetancee, it will hcctnnc necessary for the sen.- inenial gear to more indepeinlenily ot' the lever, and, in order to do He, the spiral spring (it) is coi'i'ipresreed and its yielding au iacity is suilicient to n'iwent injury to the parts of the mecl'iauism until the chain wheel 18 is rotatahly tlieiiionimzted from the sleeve 5) and the engine shalt *i', permitting the latter to rotate independently of the chain. wheel and its coiuiectiiniiu The man-- ner ol disc'mnecting these parts will now he descri heel.

vllach o iening of the ring 11h carriea a spiral spring- 4l8, which, acting; on the pins 14, neri'nally forces the ring; it) toward a shudder or face till on a collar 50, the said collar being -::on1u eted with a stationary part Bil. hy means of wrews 52, also posacd through a hearingrj-l'iall-retaining; ring 53. This collar has a sleeve 54. ani'uilarly arranged with reference to the engine shall and the sleeve 3, Tl e ,(EVB 5% protruding into a. chainl'icr itn'n'ieel. in the chain wheel lFtand to which one extremity of a coiled spring 56 is secured, as shown at 57, the opposite extremity of said springbeing secured to the chain wl'ieel, as; shown at This collar :"30 is cut away on the fat-e or shoulder l-Il adj acent the Face it) of the ring lo, forming a recess l of anllicient depth to receive a hall (52, the face ol' the collar leading from the dcepcat poi-.- lion o t the recess (31 to the normal face ot the quickly than would be the case in the absence of the said recesses.

In order to secure the par-t 51 against rotary movement and make the same sub" stantially stationary, and at the same time permitvihration without injury to the parts of the mechanism, I preferably secure a chain 75 to the outer extremity of the part 51,-see Figs. 1 and 5,the opposite extremity of the chain being made fast to the framework of the vehicle, as shown at 77. Intermediate the extremities of the chain, l. preferably locate a turnbuckle 7 8, or similar device, whereby the slack may be taken out of the chain and the l. .ter rendered properly taut,t'or the purpose. This con struction is important, since, if an attempt is made to secure the part 51 to the frame in an absoli-itely rigid manner, the vibration incident to the use of the machine would very soon. loosen therigid structure, and, in

time, the connecting part would become loose and therefore useless.

Attention is called to the fact that the securing cha1n 15 located on the opposite -side of the starter mechanism mounted on the engine shaft from the pull chain the latter extending from the operating wheel 18 to the angle pulley 28 in a direction opposite that of the chain In this manner, the strain on the engine shaft isvirtually balanced during the operation of the starting mechanism. I

It mustbe understood that my improved engine starting apparatus is equally applicable to all expl )SlVG engines, whether em ployed in connection with automobiles or in other relations.

Having thus described my invention, what I .claim is 1. The combination with the engine shaft,

of an operating, wheel'concentrically ar-- ranged thereon,means for actuating the said wheel in the forward direction to start the engine'shaft, an interlocking connection between the said wheel and the shaft to cause the wheel, when moved in the forward direction, to rotate the shaft, the reverse movement of the shaft serving norma ly to operate the wheel, and means actuated. by the reverse movement of the shaft for breaking the rotative relation between the shaft and wheel, said means comprising a ring having openings in register with ratchet reccs formed in the wheel and shaft, the said openings being open at both extremities, and

balls located in the said recesses and arranged to interlock with the wheel on the lower side and withthe engine shaft on. the upper side, and an actuating ball interposedbetween the said ring and an adjacent stationary part recessed to a suitable depth to receive the ball and having an inclined face which crowds the ball away from the sta tionary member and shifts the said ring to disconnect the balls carried thereby from the ratchet recesses of the engine shat", substantially as described.

- 2. The combination with an engine shaft,- of an operating wheel mounted thereon, means for actuating the wheel, a ring intcrposed bct-wecnthe wheel and the cugiuc shaft, the wheel and shaft having ratchet recesses, the ring having openin l1,3,'l t(lin; at their opposite extrciuiti s the ratchet recesses of the wheel a nd an operating shaft, whereby, as the wheel i turned in one direction, the shaft is actuated, and, when the shaftis turned in "the opposite direction. the wheel is actuated, anfl uicaus actuated by the reverse inoveimuit at the engine shaft for shifting the said ring in a direction parallel with the i l? the shaft to disconnect the said balls from the rat het recesses .of the engine shaft to permit til engine shaftto move in the reverse dire.- tion, substantially as described.

3. In an engine starter, the combination with the engine shaft, an operating wh e-l annularly arranged thereon, means 'or ro tating the wheel to impart the iward movement to the engine shaft. a ring: inter-- posed between the wheel and the vnginc shaft and having openings registering at their opposite extremities with rat hetre cesscs formed respectively in the migiliv shaft and the said whccl (.Hii) of said o en hirer-locking connection at the i' cginn ugr at the operation between the ring and the eugine shaft on the upper side and bet een the ring and wheel on the lower side. iiw cugine shaft having a scircumferential formed thereon ust beyond the ratchet cesses, 'andmeans actuated by the rm: movement of. the engine shaft for shiitu the said ring to move the said balls into 1h.- circumferential groove, whereby the rota! irc relation between the wheel and engine shaft is auta'imatically broken, for the purpose :et forth.

4. In an engine starter, the combination with the engine shaft, and an operating wheel concentrically arranged thereon, a ring interposed between the said wheel and the engine shaftand having openings tering at their opposite extremities ratchet recesses formed respectively in wheel and the engine shaft, balls located the openings of the ring and ada -ic enter 1 recesses of the engine shaft on collar being inclined, as shown at (33. Normally, or when the chain wheel 1s turned to start the engine shaft, or 111 the direction of .the arrow A' 'in Fig. 8, the ball 62 maintains chain wheel 18 as well as the chain 23 in a corresponding direction, and this would result in breaking the mechanism, or some part-thereof as soon as the chain had reached its limit of movement on the pulley 26. However, as soon as the reverse movement of the engine shaft and the sleeve 8' secured there to starts, the ball 62 passes from the recess 61 of the collar 50, and, following the inclined face 63 of the said collar, gradually reaches the normal plane or face of the collar, and, as it approaches this plane, the ring 16 is forced toward the left, referring to Figs. 3 and 9, compressing the springs 48, and this movement of the ring carries with it the balls 21, which are moved out of the zone of the recesses 22 in the sleeve 8 and the recesses 19 of the chain wheel into a circumferential groove 64. which allows the sleeve 8 and the engine shaft to rotate freely. in dependently of the chain wheel 18, and the movement of the said chain wheel and its connections, necessary before the balls 21 are crowded into the groove 64, is compensated for by the yielding capacity of the spring 46, heretofore explained.

\Vhen the apparatus is in use. the sleeve 8 is secured to the engine shaft 7 by means of a set screw 65. When this is done. the said sleeve and engine shaft are an integral con-.

struction, so far as their operation is concerned. since they are compelled to rotate in unison. The sleeve 8, as dlstlnguished from the engine shaft. is a matter of convenience cure it to the engine shaft whencwcr neces sary. It also makes it practicable to readily remove the mechanism from the engine shaft when, for any reason, it may be necessary or desirable to do so.

At the right of Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated the ordinary means for cranking the engine by hand, and the outer exposed on" tremity of the sleeve 8 is equipped to interlock with a pin 66 formed on the stem (57 of the crank, it being assumed, in this case, that the crank is left on the machine.

From the foregoing description, the use and operation of my improved engine starter will be readily understood. Assuming that the parts are assembled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in order to crank the engine, it is only necessary to nress the foot upon the foobplate l0 of the lever 38. and more the same forwardly to the dotted line position in Fig. 2. This operation will turn the chain wheel 18 sufliciently to impart the starting movement to the Shaft 7 through the instrumentality of the mecha: nism heretofore described. In the event that, during the starting operation, the enginc should back fire. or an explosion should occur, which. would serve to reverse the movement of the engine shaft, resulting in whatis ordinarily termed a kick, the spring 46 will permit the initial rearward movement without injury to any of the parts of the mechanism. and, by the time, or be fore. the yielding capacity of the spring 46 has become exhausted, the ballGQ will have traveled from the lowest point of the recess (31 of the collar 50 to the face (30 of said collar. whereby the ring '16 is moved in a direction parallel with the engine shaft far enough to throw the ratchet balls 21 out of engagement with the ratchet recesses of the sleeve 8 and into the circumfe ntial groove 64. allowing the engine shaft, together with the sleeve 8. to rotate independently of the starting mechanism. After each. cranking o 'icration of the lllt-Hllltll'llSlll, the wheels 1? and 26 and their connections are returned to their normal position hv the recoil action of the coiled. spring 56. From this. it will be understood that normally the chain 523 is wound on the wheel 18 to main-- tain the portion of the chain between the wheels 15 and 26 reasonably taut. the cranking operation. the chain is unwound from the wheel 18 and wound on the wheel 20, but. as soon as the operating lever 38 is released. the. spring 56 connected with the wheel 18. as aforesaid, reverses the moremcnt of the chain and the parts connected thereby in the manner aforesaid.

The ring H3 has reces es 74 formed in its face (30. thc said rcccsscs engaging the hall 53 and causing it to travel in contact. with the inclincd cam face (33 of the recess ('11 from the deepest part of the latter tr the plane of the face :9 of the stationary collar 50, wherebyv the ring 16 is shifted longitudinally of the sleeve 8 and the engine During oeaoeo 5 upper side and'the recesses of the wheel on the lower side, whereby there is an interlocking connection between. the wheel, ring and shaft, means yieldingly acting on the ring to thrust it in the direction of the axis of the shaft for maintaining its openings in position to allow the balls carried thereby co enter the ratchet recesses of the wheel and shaft, and means automatically acted on by the shaft during its reverse movement for thrusting the ring against the tension of the said yielding means, whereby the balls are carried beyond the zone of the ratchet recesses'of the wheel and shaft to permit the shaft to rotate independently of the wheel during the back tiring of the engine, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the engine shaft, of a wheel concentrically arranged thereon, means connected with the wheel. for rotating the latter in a forward direction to start the engine, a ring interposed between the wheel and the engine shaft, the wheel and engine shaft having ratchet recesses, the said ring having openings extending therethrough in the zone of the ratchet recesses of the wheel and engine shaft, the said openings nor mally registering at their opposite extremities with the recesses of the wheel and shaft respectively, balls located in the said openings and arranged to pass by gravity therefrom into the recesses of the wheel and engine shaft according to their osition, the engine shaft having a circum erential groove formed therein beyond the ratchet recesses of the shaft, astationary member located adjacent the ring, the said member having a recess, which, at its deepest part, is equal to the diameter of the ball, the said recess having its wall inclined toward the adjacent face of the said ring, the said ball being in engagement with said face, whereby, asthe shaft is rotated in the reverse direction and the ring actuated thereby, the ball will be caused to travel in contact with the inclined face of the said recess, within the stationary part, thus thrusting the ring in the direction of the axis of the shaft to carry the balls located in the openings thereof out of the zone of the ratchet recesses of the wheel and shaft, for the purpose set forth.

6. Inan engine starter, the combination with the engine shaft, of a wheel concentrically arran ed th reon, means connected with the wheel 'or ro ating the latter to actuate the engine shaft, the said means containing a member adapted to yield when the engine 'shaft is moved in the reverse direction, an

automatic interlocking connection between the wheel and engine sh aft to cause the shaft to rotate in its normal direction when the wheel is moved in a corresponding, direction,

while the reverse movement of the shaft normally imparts a corresponding movement to shaft to compensate for the back firing of the engine, substantially as described.

7. in an engine starting apparatus, the combination with the engine shaft, of an operating wheel concentrically arranged thereon, an interlocking connection between the wheel. and the engine shaft, a flexible device connected with the periphery of the wheel, which is normally spring actuated to wind the flexible device thereon, a second wheel with which the opposite extremity of the flexible device is connected, a gear sector suitably journaled, an operative connection between the second wheel and the said gear, an operating lever journaled adjacent the said gear, the two parts, however, being ca pable of independent movement, a yielding connection between the said lever and the gear, whereby the movement of the lever also actuates the gear, the 'l'unction of the yielding connection being to compensate for the initial rever;-e movement of the engine shaft due to back-firing. substantially as described.

8. in an engine starter, the combination with thelengine shaft, of a relatively stationary support into which the outer extremity of the shaft protrudes, a flexible device secured to mid support at one extremity, its opposite extremity being connected with an adjacent stationary part, theflexible device being made sufficiently taut for the purpose, an operating wheel concentrically arranged on the shaft adjacent said hearing or support, an interlocking connection between the said wheel and the engine shaft, and means for actuating the wheel, substantially as described.

9. In an engine starter. the combination with the cngineshaft, of a bearing into which the extremity of the'shaft protrudes, a flexible device connected with the bearing for securing the latter against rotation, an operating wheel mounted on the shaft adjacent ihe said bearing, a clutch ring interposed bet-ween the, wheel. and the shaft, means employed in connection with the ring for normally lockingfihe wheel, ring" and shaft to rotate in unison in either direction, the said ,bearing having a relatively deep recess located at one extremity of an inclined face formed on the bearing, and means adapted to enter the said recess and interposed between the bearing and the said ring,

whereby, as the engine shaft moved in the reverse direction, the ring will be shifted in the direction of the axis of the shaft to disconnect the latter from the operating wheel, substantially as described.

l(). in an engine starter the combination with the engine shaft, of a relatively fixed bearing into which the end of the shaft pr0- locking said first named. n'iesws trades, an operating wheel mounted olfthe shaft adJaQentthe sa1d bearlng, a clutch! I'mg lnterpnsed between the Wheel and the f shaft, means for normally locking the wheel,

1 ring and shaft to rotate 1n unison in eiizher dn'ectlon, and means lnterposed hem sand bearlng and ring for autol'na'tlcally 11.

back-fining of the engine.

In testimony Whereef I affi my in presel'lee of two Witnes Witnesses A. J. (VBRHJN, A. EBERT UBmmv. 

